Pneumatic cleaner



July 30, 1935. D.'B. REPLOGLE PNEUMATIC CLEANER Original Filed Dec. 2, 1950 Patented July 30, 1935 r UNITED STATES PATENT A OFFICE- PNEUMATIC CLEANER Original application December 2, 1930, Serial No.

Divided and this application January 9, 1933, Serial No. 650,915

8 Claims.

The invention relates to pneumatic cleaners, and more particularly to manually portable suction cleaners, including a floor tool, suction producing means, a hinged handle, and a dust collector bag carried by the handle. In cleaners of this type as at present employed, the mouth of the dust collector bag is generally secured directly to the exhaust outlet of the fan casing, while the bag itself is carried by the hinged handle of the cleaner. Accordingly, when the handle is swung upwardly or downwardly, carrying with it the bag, a strain is exerted upon the neck of the bag adjacent the mouth. For this reason dust collectors composed of paper alone have generally been found inadequate, since there is danger of the paper splitting or breaking at the point where the strain is exerted, and accordingly more expensive bags composed of fine mesh cloth are fre-- quently employed, or a cloth or like cover is used in conjunction with anlinner paper bag. Where cloth bags are employed as the filtering means, such bags are generally too expensive to be thrown away when filled with dust, as is done where a cheap paper bag is employed, and accordingly it is necessary to empty the dust from such bags, which is an unsanitary proceeding.

Accordingly one of the objects of the invention is to reduce the strain upon the neck of the dust collector bag carried by the swinging handle of a pneumatic cleaner, this being accomplished by providing a flexible hollow conduit between the mouth of the dust collector, and by so mounting the hinge of the handle that its axis will pass between the planes of the ends of the hollow conduit 35 connecting the fan outlet and bag inlet, and a point not far removed from the flexible conduit.

A further object of the invention is to so improve suction cleaners of the general type illusv trated in my prior Patents Nos. 1,292,963, dated,

Y 50 inlet and fan outlet is preferably composed of a pair of rotatably joined tubes, and the axis of the handle hinge is located slightly outside of this conduit, but passes through a second flexible conduit connecting the hollow handle with the clean- 55 ing tool.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

The drawing is to be considered as largely diagrammatic in character, and as illustrative of 5 the invention, rather than as limiting the invention to the specific details therein set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in central cross section, and with parts broken away, illustrating 0 one embodiment of the invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same with the indicator cap valve removed and with upper and lower portions of the apparatus broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on a reduced scale 15 diagrammatically illustrating the entire device;

Figs. 4 and 5 are top and side detail views respectively of the indicator valve member; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the flexible connector employed between the fan exhaust and the inlet mouth of the dust collector.

The parts of the apparatus include generally a source of suction A, an indicator valve B which may be set in either of two directions so as to place the suction producing means in communication, with either a fioortool C or a hollow suction handle D. The dust drawn through either the floor tool or the hollow handle is discharged into a dust bag E. This general arrangement of parts is similar to that set forth in my Reissue Patent No. 16,224, dated December 15, 1925.

Referring to the parts in greater detail, with particular reference to Fig. 1, the reference numeral i0 denotes a motor housing within which is mounted a suitable motor, not shown, on the shaft II of which motor is mounted a fan 12 contained within a suitable casing l3 having a discharge l4 opening into a flexible connector 25, which communicates with the dust collectorE. As shown, the connector 25 is composed of a pair of L members 46 and t1 rotatably connected to each other by means of afluid-tight ring 48, and connected at their opposite ends to the fan exhaust and the bag inlet respectively. The fan casing l3 may be supported upon suitable rollers [9, which may, if desired, be of a type similar to that described in my Patent No. 1,541,280, dated June 9, 1925. The motor housing may be supported upon one or more rear rollers H. 50

The valve B is provided with a. bottom opening l5 communicating with the fan casing and with a side opening l6, which may be turned to communicate with either of two conduit arms 20 or 2|, according as suction is to be produced within the floor tool C or the hollow handle D. The valve may be provided with a transparent top, in order that the interior may be visible,

D is preferably removably connected to the conduit arm 20 of the valve casing. To the other conduit arm 2| of the valve casing, a short flexible hose 22 is adapted to be connected as at 23, the other end of the hose being carried by a collar or connector 24 which provides a fluid- -tight joint between the hose and the suction handle D. The connector 24, as shown, is carried upon a swinging arm 26, which is split to provide forks 21 which straddle the flexible ho'se 22, and which are hingedly connected at 28 to bracket arms 29 rigidly carried by a suitable portion of the frame of the machine, as herein illustrated, the fan casing. As shown, the position of the hinge 28 is such that its axis passes substantially through the center of the flexible hose 22.

, As previously described, the flexible connector 25 is connected to a discharge opening M of the fan casing I3, and leads thence into the dust discharge bag E. The bag is provided with a reduced opening 30, which may be, connected to the flexible connector 25 in any suitable manner, as by a rubber band or the like 3|, in a manner similar to that described in my Patent No.

1,416,876. ,The opposite end of the dust collector may be provided with a clamp 32 which is connected through a suitable fastening means 33, which may be a spring or the like, to an attaching hook or other fastening element 34 on the tubular handle D, in a manner similar to that described in my Patent No. 1,292,963, dated January 28, 1919.

An electric conduit or cord 35 for supplying current to the electric motor may be supported by a suitable bracket 36 mounted on the connector 24, and at the end of the cord a plug 31 is formed, adapted to flt into a socket 38 in the motor housing. The inlet end of the bag is supported by a loop 39 carried by a hook 40 on the connector 24. This connection supports the inlet of the bag sufliciently to avoid any substantial amount of flexing, but is sufficlently yielding to permit a slight amount of play, the loop 39 being slidable upon the hook 40. If desired, the loop 39 may be of elastic material, or an inelastic loop may be employed owing to the fact that it is slidable upon the hook 40.

The present device is in many respects similar to the apparatus described in my copending application, and the operation of the device as a whole. is similar, a common object in each case being the reduction of strain upon the mouth of the paper bag. The present device differs from the device set forth in my prior application in three principal respects, i. e., in the details of the mounting of the tubular handle, in

handle. Thus the connection is relatively permanent, although the hose may be removed in' case itshould become worn and it is desired to replace the same by a new connection. Accordingly, the handle D is so mounted that it swings about a pivot whose axis passes through the hose 22, so that there is no strain in swinging the handle to a raised or lowered position, and furthermore, there is no tendency for the hose to come out of place during such swinging operation, as would be the case if the handle swung about a pivot other than one passing through the center of the hose. As shown, the collar 24 which connects the hose 22 with the handle D is carried by the forks 26 which straddle the hose 22 and which are pivoted as at 28 to the brackets 29, herein shown as secured to the fan casing l3. In order to permit the handle D to swing without causing any strain upon the dust collector bag E, a rotatable connection is inserted between the fan casing discharge M and the dust collector bag E. This coupling may be similar to that described in my Patent No. 1,836,336, dated December 15, 1931.

The swivel joint is preferably composed of light metal parts, as for example, aluminum.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, but it will be understood that modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable suction cleaner having an exhaust outlet pipe for dust laden air, a handle mounted to swing with reference to the body of the cleaner, a porous paper dust collecting and air filtering bag supported by the handle, swiveled non-elastic tubular connecting means interposed between the mouth of the bag and the exhaust outlet pipe,-and means carried by the handle for constraining that portion of the swiveled connecting means which is connected with the bag mouth to move in unison with the handle, the axis about which the handle swings being so located with reference to the axis about which the tubular connecting means swivels that the mouth of the bag is relieved of strains as the handle is tilted.

2. In a portable suction cleaner having a handle movable with reference to the body of the cleaner, and an exhaust outlet for dust laden air; a porous paper dust collecting and air filtering bag carried beneath the handle, swiveled nonelastic tubular connecting means interposed between the mouth of the bag and said outlet, means carried by said handle for supporting the bag adjacent its mouth, other means carried by the handle for supporting the bag adjacent its other end, and means for pivoting thehandle so that the bag will be relieved of strains as the handle is swung about its pivot.

3. In a suction cleaner having a fan outlet nozzle, and a handle movable with reference to the body of the cleaner; a porous paper dust collecting and air filtering bag carried beneath the handle, a flexible hollow connector, including a pair of L members rotatably connected tog'ether, interposed between the mouth of the bag and the outlet nozzle, means carried by the handle for yi'eldingly supporting said bag adjacent the mouth thereof, other means for supporting the bag adjacent its other end from the cleaner handle, and means for pivoting the handle so that the bag will be relieved of strains as the handle is swung about its pivot.

4. In a portable suction cleaner having a body portion and a handle, and an exhaust outlet for dust laden air; a dust collecting and air filtering bag carried beneath the handle and composed of porous material'which is inexpensive and of insuincient strength to withstand the repeated bendings which would occur if the mouth were connected directly to the cleaner outlet, a tubular connector interposed between the mouth of the bag and said outlet comprising a pair of retatably connected L members, means carried by said handle for supporting the bag adjacent its mouth, other means carried by the handle for supporting the bag adjacent its other end, and means for pivoting the handle so that the bag will be relieved of strains as the handle is swung about its pivot.

5. Ina portable suction cleaner having a handle movable with reference to the body of the cleaner, and an exhaust outlet for dust laden air; a porous paper dust collecting and air filtering bag carried beneath the handle, a tubular connector interposed between the mouth of the bag and said outlet comprising a pair of rotatably connected L members, means carried by said handle for supporting the bag adjacent its mouth, other means carried by the handle for supporting the bag adjacent its'other end, and means for pivoting the handle so that the bag will be relieved of strains as the handle is swung about its pivot.

6. A portable suction cleaner, including a frame, a floor tool carried by the frame, a hollow suction handle hingedly connected to the frame. suction producing means having an intake and an exhaust, a valve adapted to direct suction either toward the floor tool or toward the hollow handle, a porous paper dust collector and air filtering bag carried by and yieldingly supported at its lower end by the hollow handle, a swiveled non-elastic hollow conduit detachably connecting the mouth of the dust collector and the exhaust outlet of the suction producing means, and a flexible hollow conduit connecting the hollow handle and said valve, the axis of the hinge of the hollow handle passing through the flexible conduit between the handle and valve, and lying between the planes of the ends of the first mentioned hollow conduit and not far removed laterally from the confines of said hollow conduit.

7. A portable suction cleaner, including a frame, a floor tool carried by the frame, a hollow suction handle hingedly connected to the frame, suction producing means having an intake and an exhaust, a valve adapted to direct suction either toward the fioor tool or toward the hollow handle, a porous paper dust collector and air filtering bag carried by and yieldingly supported at its lower end by the hollow handle, a flexible hollow conduit connecting the mouth of the dust collector and the exhaust outlet of the suction producing means, and a flexible hose connecting the hollow handle and said valve, the axis of the hinge of the hollow handle passing through the flexible hose between the handle and valve. and lying between the planes of the ends of the hollow conduit and not far removed laterally from the confines of the hollow conduit, said hollow conduit including a pair of L members rotatably connected together.

8. A portable suction cleaner, including a frame, a floor tool carried by the frame, a hollow suction handle hingedly connected to the frame, suction producing means having an intake and an exhaust, a valve adapted to direct suction either toward the floor tool or toward the hollow handle, a porous paper dust collector and air filtering bag carried by and yieldingly supported at its lower end by the hollow handle, a flexible conduit connecting the hollow handle and said valve, a second flexible conduit connecting the mouth of the dust collector and the exhaust outlet oi' the suction producing means and including a pair of L members rotatably connected together, and means for pivoting the handle so that the bag will be relieved of strains as the handle is swung about its pivot.

DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE. 

